[HCDX] Recent Tropical Band Loggings & Receiver Comments

["Guy Atkins" <dx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

A new receiver in the shack here is actually a transceiver-- a mint
condition, late serial number ICOM IC-756Pro. My Racal RA6790/GM was
auctioned on Ebay to acquire the ICOM. As it turned out, the Racal sold for
more than twice what I paid for it, so in the end I upgraded radios with
money left over. The RA6790/GM is a fine receiver but tedious at times to
use for DXing, with only a single bandwidth available for SSB (unless
variable BFO is used in CW mode). In addition, the Racal lacks 12-volt power
capability for DXpeditions "off the grid".

The IC-756Pro is an all-DSP transceiver that accomplishes all filtering (51
bandwidths on SSB), modulation/demodulation, and AGC in the 24-bit IF DSP
circuits. The centerpiece of the radio is it's colorful active-matrix LCD
screen with useful spectrum display scope. With the MW attenuator mod (2 SMD
chips removed and a jumper added) it hears trans-Pacific MW DX as well as my
R-75. It's great fun to see the foreign mediumwave stations rise above the
noise and show a "peak" on the scope between the 10-kHz domestics. In every
tough DX situation, the 756Pro has outperformed the modded R-75 (which is a
hot DX rig in its own right). The audio quality is fine too, for pleasant
listening and SWLing. I carefully considered a Winradio G313, but was
concerned about strong signal handling. So far I'm very pleased with the
choice of the 756Pro. Dave Zantow's lukewarm review of the radio at Davez's
receiver pages notwithstanding, I've found this detailed technical review of
the IC-756Pro and IC-756ProII to be accurate and informative:
http://www.qsl.net/ab4oj/icom/ic756pro_notes.html A good product description
is found at ICOM-Japan's web site:
http://www.icom.co.jp/world/products/amateur/756pro/index.html
(2nd page:) http://www.icom.co.jp/world/products/amateur/756pro/details.html

At less than half the cost of a WJ-8711A/HF-1000A or RX-340, the IC-756Pro
is worth considering; and if you're a radio amateur you can use the other
half of the radio, too <g>

-----------------------------------------
AUSTRALIA 4835, 1555-1607, VL8A Alice Springs Nov 17 Panel discussion with
moderator and male & female guests about Iraq war, with mention of Fallujah
and other locations. Poor, and fading by 1605; no break noted at top of
hour. Parallel 2310 had already faded by 1555, but was heard earlier. Also
heard with interview program about US politics at 1550 on Nov 19 with a good
signal. (Atkins-WA)

CHINA 4905, 1607-1615, Xizang PBS, Lhasa, Tibet Nov 17 Exotic hill country
instrumentals and vocals, with wood flute, clanging gongs, and other
percussion. Fair signal but deteriorating at one hour past local sunrise;
parallel to 4920 (poor) and 5240 (fair). (Atkins-WA)

INDIA 4775, 1509-1520, AIR Imphal Nov 19 Male and female rapid talk in Hindi
at tune-in, followed by slow, mournful vocals; advertisement or bouncy
announcement 1514; brief AIR network jingle, then female announcer or
reporter with short items mentioning countries in the sub-cont. region.
Noted AIR Kohima 4850 in parallel at 1528. Poor signal initially, but rising
to good by 1520. (Atkins-WA)

INDIA 4850, 1526-1533, AIR Kohima Nov 19 Male and female announcers in Hindi
at 1526, parallel with AIR Imphal 4775. AIR network jingles 1529, and into
world news in English by male announcer. Good signal. (Atkins-WA)

INDONESIA 3344.81, 1455-, RRI Ternate Nov 19 Mellow Indonesian vocals to
announcer at 1458 with a few announcements. Into Love Ambon sign-off theme
1459, male announcer again voice-over with ID and frequency, more Love
Ambon, and sign-off at 1503. Fair signal. (Atkins-WA)

INDONESIA 4750, 1515-, RRI Makassar Nov 17 Noted Makassar with major
transmitter troubles this morning-- strong, motor-like rumbling with
occasional brief crackles of distorted speech, and hum on the frequency. One
hour later at 1615 the situation was still the same, but without the audio.
(Atkins-WA)

INDONESIA 4790, 1521-1526, RRI Fak Fak Nov 19 Tentative. Weak signal of
Indonesian talk by male, nearly obliterated by a strong CODAR sweeper. (It's
curious to watch the CODAR signal on the 756Pro's spectrum scope-- there's
clearly an alternating pattern of single, double, and [rarely] triple pulses
that sweep from high to low in frequency approximately once per second.).
(Atkins-WA)

Guy Atkins
Puyallup, WA USA
ICOM IC-756Pro & mod. ICOM R-75
Kiwa MAP / ERGO / DSP-59+
450 & 700 ft. Beverage Antennas



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